Road Trip to Wrestlemania.

In just a few short weeks, the WWE superstars take the first steps on the road to Wrestlemania. It is always the most exciting time of the year for a wrestling fan, it begins the build to the biggest night in sports entertainment. Wrestlemania is more than just a pay-per-view, it truly is a showcase of the immortals. Separating the good from the great, every person in the WWE works to make this even spectacular.

There is no doubt in my mind that the draw of this event is the epic confrontation between The Rock and, my favorite, John Cena. Anyone who knows me is aware that I'm not a big Rocky fan. The man can draw a crowd like no other and he can talk like the best of them but I just think his passion for the business is lacking. This can be attributed to the fact that he made several appearances via satellite instead of actually showing up to the Raw tapings prior to the last Wrestlemania. People notice things like that. If the WWE Universe meant as much to him as he said, I feel like he should have made the effort to actually show up. I'm just saying...

It was quite a gamble to have the big draw match for WMXXVIII announced a year in advance but it will pay off. This is something that is very unique to the WWE and the realm of sports entertainment. The Rock and John Cena had a good back and forth thing going for a while, teaming them together at Survivor Series was a genius move. It fueled the fire even more and helped build interest for their bout in April. What will be interesting is seeing how the feud is built heading into the event. I do think that the Cena-Kane angle could be entertaining but they need to use The Rock. He can't just come in two weeks before the pay-per0view and start teasing him or building the angle. It needs to start at Royal Rumble or Elimination Chamber at the very latest. It also can't be done mostly via satellite, which was my pet peeve when they first introduced this angle. To me, if he cared he would have showed up a bit more but that's a different issue. A few of the 'call-in' appearances are fine but he needs to be there to interact with the fans and ramp things up. It's not like the ratings would be hurt, he would probably make them go through the roof.

As for what is happening with Cena right now, I think a full heel turn is a terrible idea. Cena is the superman of the WWE, the guys who always does good. It's really hard to ignore that fact. It is also really hard to ignore the people who hate John Cena. He takes it all in stride it seems, just letting it roll off his back and the money flowing into his pocket. No matter how loud they cheer that they don't like him, the ones who like him cheer louder. People like Dave Batista have to face the fact that this guy is what represents World Wrestling Entertainment. He didn't ruin the WWE, he is one of the faces that is propelling it into the global juggernaut that it is. Those 'Did You Know?' facts prove it, WWE is worldwide and growing by the moment.

The other hot topic in the WWE is CM Punk. I think that he is a genius and one of the hottest properties that the company has ever had on its roster. He is the breath of fresh air that the company needed and he is (obviously) a HUGE hit with the fans. You can tell by the reaction that they give and the constant selling out of his merchandise, I have been trying to get a 'Best In The World' t-shirt for months, to no avail. The big draw may be the Rock versus John Cena but the main event will be whatever match Punk is in, this will be another Steamboat versus Savage type of moment. He will steal the show from these two guys. His matches are always top notch and of the highest quality. He is the essence of what a true entertainer should be. Whoever he faces better keep their eyes open and watch out for the Anaconda Vise.

January 29th is the day that the path to the showcase of the immortals starts. Wrestlemania is the moment that every superstar and fan looks forward to. It is the biggest event of the entire calendar year for the WWE Universe and this fan will be sitting on the edge of her seat.

TLC: A Turning Point in the WWE.

Last night was a first, John Cena was NOT featured in a pay-per-view. It was time for some TLC. Tables, ladders, and chairs. The pay-per-view was something special. It was more than just wrestling, it was a chance for the under appreciated and 'mid-card', as they are often labelled, superstars to show what they had to offer.

In my opinion, Zack Ryder stole the show. His match was not only the highlight of the entire event, but he finally got what he rightfully deserved. Being relegated to backstage bits and average matches, Long Island Iced Z got to show that he is a fantastic wrestler with a HUGE following. Someone in WWE creative must have gotten a clue because this was one of the best decisions that has been made in a long time. I was sick of seeing Ziggler get the belt and having to hear Vickie whine and scream. Dolph is one hell of a competitor but Vickie is dragging him down.

I jumped up off the couch when he won, I have been waiting for months for this moment. Hopefully he gets to keep the title and this means that he will move on to bigger and better things. He wasn't handed the belt, he earned it. The best moment of the entire night was seeing him celebrate with his father. Ryder's winning of the United States Championship is yet another turning point in the WWE. Much like the speech CM Punk gave a couple months back, something monumental is happening. They are creating room at the top of the wrestling food chain for guys other than the John Cena's and Randy Orton's.

There is a revolution happening. The WWE can't keep relying on one or two top guys. Sooner or later, the top guys will have to retire and then there will be a large void to fill. By building up other superstars now, they have a constant pool of talent to turn to. Guys like Daniel Bryan, Zack Ryder, and even people like Evan Bourne can still be promoted alongside the bigger names. It really is refreshing to see and they are gaining even more popularity than they had before.

I also like to think that me wearing my 'Broski' t-shirt had something to do with his win. A girl can dream...

Why I Love the WWE.

In the last two weeks or so, I've had some people pick on me for my love of professional wrestling. I have heard everything they had to say. It's fake, it's scripted, they aren't athletes, and blah, blah, blah. I usually don't let it get to me and I just brush it off. However, I feel the need to tell people why I love it and why I am so passionate about it.

I'm sure I have mentioned this before but I have literally been watching wrestling since I was born. I think I was a day or two old and my dad brought me home from the hospital and we watched my very first episode of Superstars together. From that second, I was hooked. To me, it is much more than watching something on pay-per-view or television. It's spending time with my dad, enjoying something together. Wrestling is something that we share and it ties us together even more. Some of the best times of my life have been spent with my dad on the couch watching our favourites compete in the ring.

The people who step between those ropes are not only entertainers, they are athletes as well. They train hard and they work hard. I always take offense when people say they are just actors. These men and women train every day, they put their bodies on the line, and they do it because they love it. It is all for the fans, they may not make 28 million dollars for a year contract, but they put on a show like no other. I have been to a few live events and I have never had more fun. The crowd is electric, you can literally feel the excitement in the air and coursing through the entire building. I find the fans of wrestling have an unspoken bond, I always end up chatting with everyone that sits in whatever section I'm in, either before or after the show. It really does bring people together.

I have also been witness to some of the biggest and most shocking moments in sports entertainment history. I have seen my favourite wrestlers be triumphant, be screwed over (I don't even have to explain this one), get beaten down, and sadly pass away. I remember where I was when Bret got screwed over, when Chris Benoit died, when Owen Hart had his tragic accident, and pretty much everything else. Even when I talk about my favourite moments and superstars, I get emotional and fired up. These people who step between the ropes each and every week are a integral part of my life. I watch them, I cheer them, I boo them, and I enjoy each and every step of the way.

And this, is why I love the WWE.

Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart: DVD Review.

The rivalry between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart is easily the most storied rivalry in all of sports entertainment. The incident known as the “Montreal Screwjob” is a sore spot for a lot of fans and it is something that still resonates with people today. Fans stay divided and each man, Hart and Michaels, has their fair share of support. Fans never forget, I witnessed this personally at a Monday Night Raw taping in Calgary, Alberta about two years ago. It was when Shawn Michaels was being “searched” for by Triple H. I have never heard a man get booed so loudly in my entire life. His picture came on the screen and the fans just lost it.

‘WWE’s Greatest Rivalries: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart’ is the new DVD set that sheds light on one of the most talked about incidents in WWE history and the fans finally get to see how the two men really feel about what took place before and after the infamous moment. It was an eagerly anticipated box set that has set the bar for future DVD’s from the company. The setting is very intimate, with just Bret, Shawn, and Jim Ross sitting down and having a round table type discussion. Nothing is left untouched by anyone; they air everything out which will provide fans with some context for how and what happened at Survivor Series in 1997.

It is interesting to note that both men still have a mutual respect for one another and are honest about how they feel now and how they felt at the time everything went down. Personally, I’m on Bret Hart’s side throughout this entire matter. I have no problem in admitting that as a fan and a writer. This DVD is extremely fair in presenting both cases.

It moves in phases, going from the very beginning of each mans career and leading right up to their touching moment in the ring on January 4, 2011 on Monday Night Raw. I would have LOVED to have heard what they said to each other in the ring that night. It was turning the chapter in a very painful story and the two men seem to have a new respect and admiration for each other. Everyone knows the story of how Bret and Shawn battled on television and in their personal lives, how Bret left for WCW, and Shawn climbed the ranks to be known as ‘The Show Stopper’.

One of the best parts of the DVD was seeing how each perceived the infamous ‘Montreal Screwjob’. Shawn acknowledged that he did have a bad attitude and he was more than a little egotistical going into it. Both acknowledge their shortcomings and strengths of each other and themselves. This event certainly put a strain on their friendship and made them enemies for over a decade. Bret seems a lot more honest and sincere; Shawn seems to hush some things perhaps out of shame for what happened. I would too if I did what he did. Both individuals seem to have truly grown and learned from what happened and repaired their once close friendship.

As of the writing of this article, it has been reported that the WWE is planning on creating more ‘Greatest Rivalries’ DVD sets for future release. It is the hope of this fan that they mirror the quality and earnestness of this one. No one does it better than the WWE.

Just a Note.

I just wanted to make a quick post about Johnny Ace. This has been something that has been bugging me for a while.

I always enjoy when there is a fresh face on WWE television, even if I don't necesarrily like them. I just have to ask whose idea it was to give this man a microphone? I want to say that I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Laurinaitis and he is a very nice man. However, his television persona has the charisma of a wet mop. There's nothing exciting about him, perhaps he's trying to be another Vince McMahon but it is just not working. It's getting to the point where it is actually getting painful to watch. Hopefully they appoint a new Raw General Manager soon, Johnny Ace is getting stale...

I also wanted to let my readers know that I will be posting on Wrestling News Source so be sure to keep up with their news and columns by visiting their website.

Hell in a Cell.

So sorry for the lack of posts, I started school last month and things have been more than crazy. I'm working hard towards my dream of sitting next to Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler at the announcers table. Anyways, I'm back and ready to share my thoughts on the events of the last few weeks...
I thought that HIAC (Hell in a Cell) was a pretty decent pay-per-view, it did lack the excitement of the last couple of events though. I was so shocked at the crowd. I can't even watch WWE on television without screaming like I was right there in the crowd, so I don't understand why you could hear a pin drop in the arena. I was watching at home and it was basically a dead crowd. The only reaction that came from them was the usual "Let's go Cena/Cena Sucks" chant that always breaks out, and the finish to the ppv that saw Miz and R-Truth in handcuffs (but more on that later).

I just have to say that the Sin Cara versus Sin Cara match was probably the most boring thing I have ever seen on television in a while. I'm just not engrossed in this character at all, I do understand why the kids would like him but I think that even they are becoming bored of it. I get what they are trying to do, similar in some ways to the Undertaker versus Undertaker storyline of the early to mid 90's. When he first flew into the ring, Sin Cara was something special but the novelty is quickly wearing off and they need to do something to spice up that angle.
As for the women's match, I am so glad that Beth beat the snot out of Kelly Kelly, who I can't stand. I was never a fan of the cookie cutter barbie divas. They seem boring and like they are just churned out of the developmental territory. Beth and Nattie are an excellent foil for them but they don't necessarily need to the seen as the heels in the divas division. Beth should have won her title in her hometown but, then again, I'm not the booker for WWE. If I was, i would have had Beth win with some dignity and class, instead of making her win of the belt look cheap and tawdry. That being said, I do hope that this opens up the door for women who can actually wrestle to be given a chance to dominate in the ring.
Out of the two HIAC matches, I enjoyed the triple threat between Cena, Del Rio, and Punk a lot more than the one between Orton and Mark Henry. It's not that the Henry/Orton confrontation was boring or anything like that, I'm very much enjoying having Henry as the champ. It just didn't have the same sizzle as the triple threat match. I was shocked that Del Rio got the win, but how he achieved it was pure genius. Locking Cena out? No one saw that one coming. All Del Rio needs to do is get rid of Ricardo and it will be smooth sailing for him. The ending of the match was good but there was an odd feeling to it.

My friend and I had a feeling that Mick Foley would return in some capacity, seeing as it was kind of his event in a way. Instead, Miz and Truth attacked everyone in the ring, and when help came down the ramp, the cage mysteriously lowered. It was exciting to see everyone pouring out of the back to help the men in the ring but it felt like something else was supposed to happen. Either way, it was a good play into the current storyline of Miz and Truth being fired and having a grievance with the Chief Operating Officer.
I'd also like to note that the ppv ended about ten minutes early. The first time I've ever seen that happen in my twenty-two years of watching WWE ppv's.
No on to Monday Night Raw....
I always enjoy the post-ppv Raw's. The main topic on this show seems to be the alleged unhappiness of several of the WWE superstars with how Triple H is running the show. I, speaking for myself, am quite happy with the way he is running things. It's new life, a breath of fresh air, and is going to shake things up even more than when CM Punk gave his famous promo a few months back (something I count in my top five promos of all time). What the hell is their problem? What I see is a bunch of whiny babies.
Someone call the waaaaaaaaaaambulance.
I'm not even going to comment on the divas match because Kelly Kelly's voice annoys the crap out of me. What a waste of television time that could have been spent actually doing something.

I really enjoy the interaction between Johnny Ace and Hunter. Accusing Johnny of being the one behind the angst and working against him sets up a whole new world of possibilities. I don't really enjoy listening to Johnny Ace speak on the microphone but I do think that this opens up a whole new creative avenue for the team over at WWE, they may have their faults sometimes but no one does it better than they do. It will be interesting to see what happens in the weeks to come, especially with the build to the next ppv, Vengeance, in three weeks.

The big shock of the night came when the WWE roster walked out on Triple H and essentially every fan that has ever cheered them on. I don't think it was right but, if what I hear is correct, the roster from Ring of Honor will be more than happy to fill the void on television. What will Triple H do without the superstars of Raw and Smackdown? How will the next edition of Raw pan out? So many questions to be answered...

Future Endeavors.

Just wanted to post a small blurb about something that I've been thinking about recently...

I, along with all the other WWE fans, was shocked to read that Kevin Nash got 'released'. I used the quotations because this obviously is a part of a story and not an actual release.

According to what I've heard, he is off filming a movie and is set to return when it's done. I know he probably had previous commitments prior to his stint on Summerslam but I do wish that they utilized him more. It just seems a little hokey that he was sparingly used. As a fan, the interaction between Triple H and himself was entertaining to watch. I was actually looking forward to seeing what Nash had left in him and am greatly disappointed that he wont be fighting at Night of Champions.

Here's to hoping that Nash returns in some capacity....I wish him well in his future endeavors.

Live from Edmonton, Alberta.

I had the pleasure of attending the August 22nd edition of Monday Night Raw and I just have to say that no one does it better than the WWE. They don't travel to Edmonton, located 5 hours away from my hometown, very often but when they do it's always worth the travel and money to get there. I was lucky enough to stay in the same hotel as Sheamus, David Otunga (who is extremely polite), and Michael McGillicutty.

The Superstars matches were excellent, seeing Sheamus defeat Heath Slater and Daniel Bryan defeat Drew McIntyre. It was a thrill to see Daniel Bryan wrestle as he is one of my all time favorite competitors. The Edmonton crowd is always awesome to be a part of, everyone was into the ring action. My friends and I had such amazing seats, row 9, on the floor, right by the titantron.

The MNR broadcast as a whole was one of the best I've seen in a long time and my second live Raw. It's been a few days since the show and I'm sure everyone knows who beat who and what not, so I'm going to highlight a few of my favorite moments from my live WWE experience...

Even though I LOVE John Cena, CM Punk stole the show from everyone. The crowd just ate him up, seeing him cut a promo live was one of the most memorable wrestling moments of my entire life. The reaction to Kevin Nash and Triple H didn't even come close to how the crowd responded to Punk. The section that I happened to be sitting in had a good mix of Punk and Cena fans so it was always hilarious when the two were in the ring. One of the funniest moments of the night was when Cena tossed his shirt into the crowd and it got tossed back...three times!

The crowd chants coming out of Canada are always a treat to listen to. My section got a 'We Want Hall' chant, 'Mr.Perfect' chant, and a 'Boring' chant going at various points throughout the broadcast. Our section was full of tons of great people and  there was only one lady who was raining on everyone's good time. She actually told me that since I was wearing a John Cena shirt that I should know better than to cuss. I literally had nothing to say and just laughed. One of the best parts of any event is the crowd reaction, everyone was cheering, yelling, drinking, and just having a great time. It's really something to see that one single event bring so many people together in one place. It didn't matter who cheered for who, everyone was so into it. As evidenced by the 'WHAT?' chants when the Miz and R-Truth were in the ring.

I'd also like to mention that I saw the sign that I made four or five times on television, it was just something that made the show that much more fun.

Another thing that made the event so special for me was that I got to meet the man I aspire to be when I'm done school, Jim Ross. I also met Jerry Lawler (for the second time) and Kevin Nash. They seemed a little tired and cranky but I'm sure that travel and being bombarded by fans all night will do that to you. It was a real thrill for me as a fan and aspiring WWE commentator. I would only hope to be as talented as Jim Ross one day.

I was very upset that I was unable to make it to Calgary for the Smackdown taping, just for the simple fact that Bret Hart, my favorite wrestler of all time, was in attendance. He is number one on my 'Wrestlers to Meet' list.

I will say this, I am happy that I didn't have to sit through the Sin Cara versus Heath Slater match...twice.

Champion vs. Champion.

Two of the biggest names in wrestling are facing each other this Sunday in a match to determine the true champion. It's going to be outspoken CM Punk versus golden boy John Cena. I personally love both of them and look forward to seeing them face each other yet again.

Like their MITB match, this face-off is a definite game changer. Who really is the champion? Is it the man who won and then left? Or is it the man who won it from Rey Mysterio? It certainly has peaked the interest of wrestling and non-wrestling fans from all over, easily becoming one of the most popular angles of the last five or ten years.

Personally, I think that CM Punk is the true champ. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a true blue John Cena fan. I have a Cena snuggie for god sakes. He has been the number one guy for the company for quite some time and he deserves that title, there is no denying that he's a big draw. That being said, CM Punk is a breath of fresh air. There is a new sheriff in town with Triple H taking over the television leadership reigns from Vince and CM Punk is the perfect guy to, for lack of a better term, shake shit up. His off the cuff rants are the most compelling and exciting stuff to come out of WWE programming in a LONG time.

As I've said a million times before, there needs to be a change when it comes to the champion. There are the same guys winning it far too often and it seems as though someone has finally answered my prayers. I think Vince McMahon is one of the most brilliant men ever, and he knows that this recent 'Age of Punk' is peaking interest in his company and its superstars.

There is a shifting dynamic and CM Punk is at the forefront, it may not be a full fledged return to the Attitude Era, but it's a start.

A New Era.

This past episode of Monday Night Raw was, in my opinion, a home run show.

It's always refreshing to see the show opened with a match instead of the usual promo. The action between Rey Mysterio and The Miz was received well from the crowd and it was great to see that the crowd was responding well to the match. I always take note of the crowd reaction during a show and anything was better than the crowd that they had after the MITB pay-per-view. The entire tournament seemed kind of odd, and I feel as though they should have left the title 'vacant' a little longer. It would have added a little more suspense and played up the storyline with CM Punk that much more. Letting Punk leave with the belt was pure genius. I'm glad it didn't turn into an Alundra Blayze incident, where she dropped her title in a garbage can.

The tournament seemed useless with Rey winning and losing so quickly.  One of the huge surprises of the night is that CM Punk made a return and had a wordless showdown with Cena in the ring, with each man raising their respective title and garnering a fan reaction. What should have happened is that Rey should have hung on to the belt for a week or two and then Cena should have won it from him, leaving the showdown between Punk and Cena for before Summerslam. A champ vs. champ match perhaps? This eager fan is hoping so.

Last week saw Triple H take over the day to day activities of the company by being appointed the new COO of the company. I have a feeling that things will be a little more edgy than the previous product without losing the PG rating on the programming. His in ring exchanges with both R-Truth and Michael Cole were hilarious and had me laughing the entire time. The thing that most pleased me with this entire segment was that good ol' Jim Ross was brought back. I don't know the terms of the deal, all I know is that I am one happy camper. Mr. Ross adds a informative view to the action in the ring and, partnered with Lawler, will make announcing more interesting. All of the announcers seem to be lost, not really knowing what the hell they're doing and it causes guys like Lawler to be lost in the shuffle.

The first night of the 'Triple H' era was extremely successful. I am excited and a bit curious to see just where this new perspective will take us as wrestling fans.

Money In The Bank.

It's been quite a while since my last post and we have a lot to talk about...

The hot topic in the wrestling world has been the storyline between CM Punk and John Cena. These two athletes pulled off one of the hottest angles in the last decade, it had everything a wrestling fan could want. The right amount of hype, perfect promos, and one hell of a match at Money In The Bank. The anticipation for this event has been off the charts and I personally think this will be declared the pay-per-view of 2011. Yes, even beating the showcase of the immortals.

From beginning to end, the main event had it all. CM Punk came out with a huge pop as expected (it was in his hometown of Chicago) and Cena came out to the loudest chorus of boos I have ever heard in my life. Constant non-stop action, amazing near-falls, and I think it was the best match of either man's career. It's moments like this that make me so very proud to be a WWE fan. My Dad and I sat on the edge of our seats for the entire match and were torn between who to root for. We talked about possible outcomes before and during the pay-per-view and both came to the conclusion that there would be something similar to the infamous Montreal Screwjob. We figured that there would be no way in hell that Vince would allow CM Punk to leave with the lifeblood of the WWE. Well, ladies and gentlemen, that very thing happened last night and it sent shock waves throughout the entire wrestling world.

Honestly, I think this was the correct way to go with the title match. As much as I love John Cena, the WWE needed a shake up at every level. CM Pun k deserved this win, he is one of the most talented men to ever step through those ropes as far as I am concerned. I was surprised that the ball was not dropped as there have been some questionable creative decisions made within the last few months concerning story lines and talent. It's programs like this that just go to prove that nobody does it better than World Wrestling Entertainment.

Another highlight of the event was Daniel Bryan winning the Smackdown Money In The Bank match.I've always enjoyed watching him wrestle and think that he is finally getting what he deserves. I called him as a winner from the very beginning and am so glad that it didn't go to someone like Cody Rhodes. Daniel Bryan is already so accomplished but now he is the most important man on Smackdown. He can strike at any time and win the title, it will only be a matter of time before he is main eventing.

As for the actual MITB matches, I found the Smackdown match far superior to the Raw match. It's nice to see the Smackdown guys get centre stage as I believe that they are often left on the back burner. There was one shocking moment in the Raw match, Alberto Del Rio unmasking Rey Mysterio. I actually gasped. It added a nice element of surprise to the match and gave the crowd something else to talk about. Christian versus Orton was a nail biter of a match and just added more fuel to their red hot rivalry, Christian came out as champ after provoking Randy to the point that he disqualified himself. The spitting in the face came across as a little too much but I think in the end that it worked.

The only 'boring' part of the show was the Diva match. It was a pretty decent match overall but I just do not enjoy watching them wrestle while real talents like Natalya and Beth Phoenix are left sitting in the back. Give them something else to do other than twiddle their thumbs...

It will be interesting to see what the fallout will be from MITB and how the WWE deals with CM Punk leaving the organization as champ....bring on Monday Night Raw!

CM Punk: The Most Brilliant Man In Wrestling.

I believe that for the crowd to respond well to a wrestler, whether that reaction is good or bad, the wrestler has to be real. They have to be an all-around amazing entertainer, in and out of the ring. On Monday night, CM Punk gave us all of this and more.

I was sitting on my couch and when he started speaking after Cena lost, my jaw hit the floor. He just laid it all out there and cut one of the best promos I have ever watched. Even better than the one Roddy Piper cut on the Old School Raw and the silent one done by both the Undertaker and Triple H for their epic Wrestlemania XXVIII battle. From the first second that he opened his mouth it was pure magic. I did find it odd that he was wearing a Stone Cold Steve Austin shirt but then someone on Twitter summed it all up. He was having his 'Stone Cold moment'. He ripped on absolutely everything. Cena, Vince, WWE as a company, the fans, and he even speculated about what he would do when he was done with the organization. I was flabbergasted. When things like this happen, it breathes new life into what some view as a 'stale' product. I personally find WWE programming entertaining every time I watch it but even I was relieved. This is exactly what a heel should be in wrestling.

It is my hope that everyone in the locker room was taking notes that night. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how it's done.

Kayfabe or not, I don't care. This is exactly the type of intense heat that a rivalry should have. Fans are engaged, intrigued, and just can't get enough of it.

To view the epicness that occurred on Monday Night Raw, click here.

The Good, Bad, and Ugly.

There is a lot to cover in this post; Ultimate Warrior's 'Karma Collects' video came out, the Capitol Punishment pay-per-view, and the second three hour edition of Monday Night Raw. So here we go, let's get down to business...

I sat with my mom and watched all eight parts of the 'Karma Collects' video. First off, I have never been more entertained in my entire life. Some serious allegations were made against Hogan by Warrior. He was/is a drug abuser, he was so afraid of other guys getting over that he would sabotage their careers, he is a hypocrite, and a plethora of others. It was a lot to take in and I sat riveted to my computer for almost an hour. Warrior made one statement that really stood out to me, "Hulkamania shows how to fuck up a life."

Utterly speechless.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is more than just mudslinging. You don't say those types of things without having some kind of truth to the rumors. I personally find it weird that Hogan hasn't really addressed these allegations. Most people would advise that the best thing to do is to keep your mouth shut, 100% wrong. I think that Hogan should come out and say a little more than what has been said. I'm looking forward to any other videos that Warrior is releasing but what I'd really like to see if these two men face to face. Now that would be entertainment...

As for the Capitol Punishment pay-per-view, it was a really solid card. What they could have done differently was get rid of that stupid Obama impersonator. It would have been impressive if the real president made a surprise appearance. Asking a lot, I know, but it would have been phenomenal. The highlight of the event for me was when that little kid threw the drink in R-Truth's face and celebrated in the ring with John Cena. My dad and I laughed so hard, it just goes to show that the superstars are all about the fans and giving them a fantastic show. There are two things that made me scratch my head during the show, one happened when Christian faced Randy Orton and when Kofi Kingston faced Dolph Ziggler.

We'll start with the Dolph Ziggler versus Kofi Kingston match. I'm sorry but Scott Armstrong needs to go back to FCW or something. Ziggler clearly used to bottom rope for leverage and his sleeper hold on Kofi should have been broken. I do realize that he probably made a judgement call and wanted to do what was best for Kofi but COME ON! Any other referee would have broken that hold.

And concerning Christian versus Randy Orton...HIS FOOT WAS CLEARLY UNDER THE ROPE! I saw it, the announcers saw it, everyone watching saw it. I have seen the officials reverse their decisions based on replays from matches before and I think that the same should be done here. Or there should at least be one more rematch. It's not like Christian is some Joe Blow going for the belt, this man earned it and deserves it. Hopefully this is all just part of the angle and not just another Montreal Screwjob.

I won't even discuss the results from Monday Night Raw: Power to the People because of all the problems that they had with the mobile voting system. The biggest disappointment of the night was that the problems caused Mason Ryan to face Evan Bourne. I so badly wanted Sin Cara to face Evan Bourne and found it extremely odd that the WWE Universe would pick Ryan over Sin Cara. At least the WWE acknowledged the snafu and is making it up to the fans, I for one will be glued to my seat Monday night to watch the two high flyers go at it. Another fun surprise for next week is that Shawn Michaels is the special guest, he'll be in attendance for the Raw Roulette and to promote his new outdoor themed television show. If anything, it should bring up the ratings and get a great reaction out of the fans who always go nuts whenever the Heartbreak Kid is around.

What I want to discuss the most is CM Punk's stunning announcement that on July 17th he will be wrestling his final WWE match. I was stunned. I heard rumors of it happening but didn't think that it would happen. I'm attending a taping of Monday Night Raw in Edmonton this August and very upset that I won't be able to see him. I'm hoping that he will remain in some capacity with an eventual return, that it's just a break like Chris Jericho takes periodically. Either way, it's a true loss to every wrestling fan. CM Punk had incredible in-ring ability and an even more incredible gift of gab. He could get the crowd going and make them laugh all in the same breath. He delivered world class entertainment each time he stepped in between those ropes and into the squared circle, as only the WWE superstars can do. We'll miss you Punk...

With two three hour editions of Raw complete and Raw Roulette coming up, let's sit back and see what the WWE creative team has to offer up to us next week.

Warrior Vs. Hogan: Whose side are YOU on?

I saw an article on TMZ.com that mentioned something about Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan feuding and initially skimmed over it. Figuring it was nothing new and just some blurb never to be heard of again. Boy was I wrong...

My nerdy nature prompted me to do a little bit more research on the matter and I was in shock and awe about what I was seeing and reading. The first video I personally watched was the short blurb he did about Hogan censoring fans on Twitter. Not really sure what to think, I looked at a few more. Initially, I will admit that I thought he was bat shit crazy. The other videos seriously blew me away, I especially enjoyed the preview of his upcoming uncensored video all about Hogan. That particular video can be found by clicking here. He really speaks with conviction, you can't deny that at all. The video and the topics that he brings up just beg the question, how much of it is based in fact? I'm hoping for all of it and that sounds terrible.

I watched the video that Hulk Hogan did saying how much he missed Randy Savage. I also watched the interview that he did with 'The Voice' and I was simply appalled. Excuse my language, but what a smug son of a bitch.

The interview is available on YouTube, in four parts (click here to start with part one). I felt like Hogan didn't care who he threw under the proverbial bus. They talked about a variety of topics and a variety of different wrestlers. I got the impression that Hogan thought that during the 'Rock n' Wrestling' era (and his entire WWE run), he was the be all and end all. He wasn't, the success of the business and product cannot be attributed to one person in any given era. The things that have come out about his family and himself in the last few years really make you feel sorry that he has sort of 'fallen from the top', for lack of a better term. His son Nick's accident and the oddly entertaining divorce between Hulk and Linda are the first things that jump to mind. I am frankly disgusted that he would walk around like he's still one of the biggest stars in the business, an example would be him openly admitting that he uses his 'celebrity' to his advantage. Why would you even admit that? It just makes you look and sound kind of terrible, everyone knows that it sometimes does happen but to hear someone admit it is a totally different story.

What I believe exacerbated the entire situation even more that those YouTube videos is the mocking of Randy Savage's tragic passing by Brian Knobbs. I read the report about the entire situation and I was completely disgusted with what I read. He should feel sorry and ashamed, as should the people who just sat by and said nothing while he mocked the death of a fellow wrestler. Some say that maybe that was his way a grieving, I beg to differ. Nasty Boy Brian Knobbs should be the last person 'joking' about having a heart attack. What happened to Randy was a terrible and unfortunate accident that shook the wrestling world (and the entertainment industry in general). But of course, there will be no repercussions or public apology given because he's a friend of Hogan's. If he was really and truly missing Randy then he would have issued an apology almost immediately after it blew up on the internet.

I am just waiting for the Ultimate Warrior to release his uncensored rant on Hogan. I would also like to see Hogan release a response video to the Warrior's accusations, because at this point that's all that they are. A part of me is hoping that these two guys can work this out privately but the other part of me is hoping that everything gets laid out on the table. Either way, I think that accusations will be thrown, claims will be proven or not, and there will be two guys who definitely won't be sharing anything together in the near future.

Please Stand By.

I just have to start off by saying that the opening video for Memorial Day was very well done (as they always are).

Technical difficulties plagued the first segment of Monday Night Raw, sadly I didn't hear anything that was said. R-Truth was out so I'm assuming that he was spouting all kinds of crazy (that was confirmed when they did a replay of that segment later on in the broadcast). Cena came out and the two exchanged words and then the Raw General Manager chimed in announcing the main event for the night. Jumping ahead a little bit here, I found this main event boring. I have no idea what R-Truth was getting at but it was not entertaining by any means and that finish was a joke. It does set up a possible feud with the two, being former friends and all, but I just don't see it panning out in the long run. If it does, I expect top-notch work from Cena and a weird, disjointed performance from Truth. Capitol Punishment is right around the corner so this may be the way they want to go for the pay-per-view. Possibly a title match or a tag team match of some kind involving the two on opposite teams.

There were only five matches on the show and none of them were spectacular but they were mildly entertaining. Kofi was defeated by Dolph Ziggler, Kelly Kelly and Eve defeated the Bella Twins, CM Punk defeated Rey Mysterio, Evan Bourne beat Jack Swagger, and Cena was defeated by R-Truth. Usually I'm shouting at the television and getting really excited over a match but I'd just like to think that it was an off week. Bret Hart is a tough act to follow and with the pay-per-view coming up there will be a good build to the story lines and rivalries.

I am disappointed that Kharma will be out for a year or so, but happy to hear that she is pregnant. It was just a mild let down after being excited to have a woman who can actually fight in the women's division. As for the Bella Twins coming out, are you trying to be the new Laycool? They can't fight, they cheat, and they're bullies. They should be promoting an atmosphere where women can feel beautiful and strong, not ripping on each other and putting each other down. Angle or not, it's not acceptable.

Is it just me or is Alberto Del Rio becoming annoying? I don't know if it's his ring announcer, his stupid cars, his entrance, or his introduction when he talks on the microphone. It's probably a combination of all of the above. I do think that having him feud with the Big Show/Kane is an interesting way to go and will be highly entertaining. The WWE Universe is hoping that Show returns soon and shuts Del Rio up. But you already know that...

Also, Alex Riley seems to be coming into his own more. I always thought that he would be great as a singles competitor. Glad to see that he broke away from The Miz and he is developing his own character. I predict big things from him in the near future. Perhaps a match with his former mentor at the next pay-per-view?

In Memory Of.

With the recent passing of 'Macho Man' Randy Savage, I felt as though it was time to share my thoughts about the deaths in professional wrestling. It isn't a secret that many wrestlers meet an early demise, with not too may of them living past an average age of 45. Lives and careers are cut short due to a variety of reasons, some self-inflicted and some just terrible accidents. A business loses a talent and the fans lose someone that they have looked up to for many years. When a wrestler dies, people come out of the woodwork with theories and reasons as to why it happened. No death is ever just that. There is always some kind of controversy surrounding it. It really makes me angry when people just assume a circumstance in a wrestler's death, it doesn't make them any less important than any other professional athlete that passes away.

The number one conclusion that people jump to is that it was steroids that contributed to the death of an individual. A myriad of evidence exists to support the fact that wrestlers lived lives of excess and no boundaries, I think this was more prevalent during the 'Rock 'n Wrestling' era (not saying that it did not exist at any other time). The fact of the matter is that the WWE does in fact provide very well for any talent signed to its roster, past or present. Their health and wellness policy is one of the most comprehensive ones I've ever seen for their field of work, there is no room for squeaking by or slipping through the cracks. Talent must submit to drug testing several times a year, penalties are handed down if ANYBODY is found in violation of this policy, and they provide rehab for anyone who needs it, among many other things. You can view the policy in full by clicking here.

It is listed on the 'Corporate' section of the WWE website that only five wrestlers have died while under contract with the company. One accident, one suicide, and three from heart disease. I personally think that, in the deaths related to drugs/alcohol, that an individual is responsible for their own actions. These aren't children that are being dealt with, it's grown people. If you are an adult and can't realize that drugs are bad, then you've got more problems than you think. Although the health and wellness policy was only introduced in 2006, there is more than enough support from the company to get its past and present talent the help that it needs. Whether you take it or not, that's your choice.

As for the accidental deaths, they are simply that, accidents. In the case of Owen Hart, it's not like Vince set out to kill him. It was an unfortunate series of events that led to that tragedy. No blame can be placed on anyone for that, and I admire the company for taking responsibility and stepping up to assist Martha, Oje, and Athena. I do feel sorry that they have to deal with Martha Hart, but that's another story for another article. The Chris Benoit situation is a completely different can of worms. That was completely shocking and very disturbing. He had the brain of an Alzheimer's patient and he just snapped. I'm not excusing what he did by any means, but he obviously was not well.

No matter what the circumstances, the wrestler that passes away leaves a lasting stamp on the business and the fans that they left behind. I'd like to share my thoughts on two wrestling deaths that left a huge impact on me:

Chris Benoit:
His death has to be one of the most controversial in all of professional wrestling. I was crushed when I got the text message that something happened. I froze. On my way to work that day, I grabbed whatever newspapers I could and watched every newscast after work. I simply refused to believe that one of my all-time favorites was dead, along with his family. I cried through the whole episode of Monday Night Raw dedicated to his life and career. When the details emerged I didn't know what to think. I get so emotional talking about him simply because he meant so much to me. One of the all time greats, it is just too bad that he had such a tragic end to what would have been a Hall of Fame worthy career. How do you react to something like this? There is no right or wrong way.

That being said, I still greatly admire his wrestling career, I do not condone what happened at all. I still enjoy watching his matches and seeing him go toe to toe with the biggest and baddest in the business.

Owen Hart:
I was sitting in my living room in my Bret Hart t-shirt when it happened. I wasn't too sure what was going on. Then they showed Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler at the announce table. Jerry, looking away and Jim Ross, pale as a ghost. It was unfathomable to me at the time to hear 'Owen Hart has died.'. I watched the rest of 'Over the Edge' in silence. The greatest tragedy ever happened on that night and I still have the pay-per-view on VHS and have it poked away. The thought of seeing Jim Ross announce that a member of my favorite wrestling family has passed away actually makes me sick to my stomach. I cried for a week straight, the tribute episode of Monday Night Raw for Owen was the biggest outpouring of love I have ever seen. It is still hard for me to deal with someone I grew up watching on television just dying like that. I will always think of Owen as a man of integrity and honesty, loving to have fun and caring about everyone around him. He is proof that you didn't have to be the biggest or baddest to be successful in the ring, you just have to have 'Hart'. Rest in peace Owen. We miss you.

And the Stipulation is....

This week's episode of Monday Night Raw opened with a confrontation between Alberto Del Rio, The Miz, Rey Mysterio, and R-Truth. They were all vying for a chance at the #1 contender spot. The Raw General Manager chimed in saying that there would be a triple threat match that would see Del Rio, Mysterio, and the Miz compete for the chance to face John Cena at Over the Limit. R-Truth was left out and of course lost his mind. He just seems awkward in whatever they put him in. I don't know if it is just that they don't know what to do with him or if they actually think that this is a good angle. He needs to have something more to do than attack John Morrison, insult his fans, and blabber on about random things.

On a side note, will the person behind the Raw General Manager ever be revealed? That's something I always talk about with my Mom and Dad. We all have our theories about who it could be and why. It will be fun to find out who it is, if they even reveal it at all.

As for the actual triple threat match, I called the Miz as the winner from the very beginning. It made the most sense. There was two weeks until the next pay per view and he was the only guy who had a long enough history with John Cena to actually make the match worth watching. It's not that Mysterio and Del Rio wouldn’t have been entertaining, it's that there wouldn't have been enough time to build up anything that people would ahve wanted to see. At the end of the program, Cena announced that he chose an 'I Quit' match. It will be interesting to see how this match goes and hopefully Cena retains. Hopefully this match will draw this feud to a close and we'll be able to see John Cena feud with someone else. To me, Miz is just annoying. I'm tired of watching him cheat each and every week. It will be interesting to see who each of them feud with after. Another interesting thing to note is that Alex Riley really seems to be coming into his own, even if he is still under a 'contract' with the Miz. I really think he could have potential as an individual competitor; he just needs to be known as more than a lap dog. Hopefully he can start to break away from the Miz, seeing as he is technically a Smackdown superstar. He did issue a challenge to Cena, which Cena won (like no one saw that coming). I'm just glad he can do something more than cheat for the Miz.

Shocker! There was actually a halfway decent women's wrestling match on Raw. Kelly Kelly and Eve took on the Bella Twins. I was actually impressed with the match, even though it was basically a vehicle to have Kharma come out again. We see her come out and absolutely demolish these Divas but when will we actually see her compete?

The other major event of the broadcast was Michael Cole 'retiring' from competition. Seriously?! Anyone who reads this knows how much disdain I have for him. I have read reports where he is just as annoying backstage, as he is on screen. I was mostly thankful for Jerry Lawler interrupting him and challenging him to just one more match. The stipulation attached was that Jerry would personally induct Michael Cole into the Hall of Fame and give him his HOF ring. I sincerely hope that the booker doesn't drop the ball on this and let Cole win. Swagger came out and attacked Lawler, which seems to be a running theme every week (and then had a match against Kofi Kingston). The highlight of the entire show was when Jerry came out and pulled Cole's tie through the hole in the 'Cole Mine' and smashed his face into the wall. That made my day. I can’t wait for Over the Limit.

I also wanted to add that I am going to start doing reviews on my blog, in addition to my weekly postings. I'll be reviewing books, movies, and anything else that has the WWE stamp on it. Any suggestions are welcome so feel free to give me ideas!

Happy Birthday to You...

Last night, the WWE superstars were pushed to their breaking point at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view that took place in Tampa. Overall, I thought the pay-per-view was decent, it had its great moments but also had some lows. First off, I'd like to discuss what I thought were the high points of the event...

Randy Orton vs. CM Punk (Last Man Standing)
I  am always curious as to how 'extreme' a match like this can get with the PG rating. I thought that both Randy Orton and CM Punk did an amazing job with the time that they were given. This was one of the most entertaining matches I have seen the two involved in during their feud. The two standout moments for me were when CM Punk shoved Randy into the post with a chair around his neck and then when Orton delivered an RKO on the announce table. There wasn't any blood in the match but those moments made me cringe.

My big question is how will this feud continue or end off since both men are on different brands? Will we see more brand crossover? I think this one has the potential to be extremely entertaining and hopefully they continue with it for the foreseeable future, or at least until Summerslam.

Kofi Kingston vs. Sheamus (Tables Match for the United States Championship)
It was an add-on, a last minute match. However, I was extremely happy to cheer Kofi on when he won that belt. He seemed to be getting a push and then he got swept to the sidelines. Kofi has the potential to be a massive star in the business and I am glad he got his time to shine. Booker T mentioned his 'mean streak' throughout the match and how he may have to keep that up to be taken seriously, I sure hope he doesn't. I wouldn't want him to go in the same direction that R-Truth is heading.

Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole and Jack Swagger (Country Whipping Match - Strap Match)
The one point I have to mention is that I was out of my seat to see Ross and Lawler get their hands and take their boots to Cole.

Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio (Ladder Match for the Vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
This was the highlight of the night and should have been the main event match. I have never seen two men put on such an entertaining match in quite some time. I still maintain that Del Rio is getting a push too soon and that he isn't established enough yet to hold such a major belt. My Dad and I got into a huge discussion during the match about who would win and we both decided on Christian. Being one of the pioneers of the modern ladder match, he proved without a doubt that he is deserving of being in a main event and winning the big prize. The highlight of the match was when Edge came out, he added a special touch and an emotional end to one hell of a match. I was glued to the edge of my seat the entire time, literally jumping off the couch when he won. I'm proud as a fan to see that he finally got what he had coming to him, especially after losing the ECW title on the very last broadcast (Yes, I'm still a little bitter about that haha!).

Now to discuss the few low points of the night...

Big Show & Kane vs. Ezekiel Jackson and Wade Barrett (Lumberjack Match)
Seriously? Do I even have to say anything about this to the people who watched it? What a waste. Someone needs to start caring about tag team wrestling, or we are going to end up with more debacles like this.

Michelle McCool vs. Layla (Loser Leaves WWE Match)
I was honestly shocked at the outcome of this match but it makes perfect sense if you think about it. McCool is recently married to Undertaker and has been wrestling injured for some time. She probably wants time to heal and spend with her husband. There is no official word yet if she is actually gone from the company but time will tell.

I was also disappointed that Kharma (or Awesome Kong, as she was known in TNA) didn't get a bigger debut. She didn't need to be the star of the show but she should have had a more advertised or hyped up entrance. That being said, I think she will breathe new life into the Diva's locker room. Thank god, someone had to do it.

Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole & Jack Swagger
I feel like I had to mention this one again because I was so disappointed that they didn't win. I personally would have loved to see Cole get the snot beat out of him.

John Cena vs. John Morrison vs. The Miz (Triple Threat Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship)
I normally enjoy Cena's matches quite a bit. It's not that this one wasn't good, but it wasn't that great either. I felt that it was lacking a little something and that Morrison should have won instead of Cena. I had a theory, as well as my Dad, that Morrison should have won the belt and kept it for a few months. As much as I love John Cena, he should have won the title at a major PPV like Summerslam. It will be interesting to see how long he has it this time with his impending main event with Rocky set for Wrestlemania XXVIII. Also, John Morrison should have been hyped up better and added to the feud of Cena vs. Miz. Honestly, he didn't make too much sense and should have been integrated better.

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Monday Night Raw saw fallout from Extreme Rules and the birthday celebration of The Rock. I figured that there wouldn't be much wrestling on the broadcast as we saw appearances from Pitbull, the Miami Heat dancers, and Mya. It was fairly entertaining but I was hoping for a bit more in-ring competition.

The opening video for the show, before the opening credits even rolled really was touching considering the events of the last 24 hours. Like I have said a bazillion times before, no one does it better than the production team at WWE. Adding to that was Lillian Garcia singing the national anthem, what an amazing way to show unity at such a controversial and emotional time in the world.

Other than the birthday bash, not a whole lot happened, but I would like to say that this angle with R-Truth really is getting on my nerves. I simply don;t think he is main event material, not saying that he isn't a good wrestler. He just needs to find a gimmick that works and stick to it. I don't enjoy watching him attack John Morrison from behind and bad mouth fans. Sorry but it just doesn't work for me.

Kharma also came out again tonight and did the same bit that she did last night. I'm still not too sure what to think about her but I would like to see a program developed between her and Beth Phoenix. I think that they will make her come out and attack the other ladies for a while longer before they give her anything of real substance.

The last moment I watched the broadcast before I tuned out is the re-match between Cena and Miz. I knew Alex Riley would be there and help him cheat for the win but I still held out hope he would turn on The Miz. With Riley being drafted to Smackdown, it will be interesting to see how he develops and branches out on his own.

The 'WTF?!' moment for me tonight was when John Cena said that he had a present for Rocky and raised the WWE title. Will the main event with the two be a title match? Will it have another stipulation? Will John Cena even have the belt come April 2012? I honestly don't think I can wait almost a year to find out.

2011 WWE Draft.

The time has come for the annual WWE draft, where superstars are shuffled around and the landscape of Raw and Smackdown can change drastically.

Edge's sudden retirement (and might I add, unexpected) caused the draft to happen a few months sooner than anticipated. I always enjoy the draft and the fact that the talent gets shuffled around, providing both brands with a somewhat even range of superstars. Although I do think that Smackdown, more often than not, receives the short end of the stick. This year, the draft was unpredictable and surprising. I personally thought that the draft episode should have been a three hour episode and that a few more superstars should have been drafted. With that being said, the show was still a fairly solid broadcast, with ratings up from last week's show. I'm going to give my thoughts on the televised draft picks and a few moments from the broadcast...

Draft Pick #1: John Cena moves to Smackdown
Determining Match: Battle Royal (Team Raw vs. Team Smackdown)
It was nice to see Smackdown come out on top for once. It was the typical battle royal scenario but I truly enjoyed Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne getting some time to shine during the end of the match. They are truly talented and deserve to be more than mid-card jobbers.

I was completely shocked with seeing Cena get drafted to Friday nights (before the shocking twist at the end of the show). I figured that it would be a strong decision that would help pull in more ratings for SyFy and the WWE. Cena came out to a humongous pop, cut a high energy promo that hyped both Smackdown and his upcoming title bout this Sunday. I always enjoy Cena cutting a promo, whether fans love him or hate him, he is a true entertainer.

Now onto R-Truth. I really don't like him at all anymore. His character development has been atrocious, his antics simply unexplainable, and his interactions with superstars/fans just plain awkward. I sincerely hope that they do something with him soon. He can be an upper card performer if they truly pushed him in the right way. With his awkward interaction with Morrison last week and his smoking on television, he is clearly losing whatever fan base he had. I don't like the thought of him being heel in any way, he entertains the kids in the audience and was always such an upbeat and positive performer. Now, not so much.

We also saw another promo for Awesome Kong (or Kharma, as she will be known in the WWE). I still have no details as tow hen she will debut but I'm thinking soon. Either way, when she comes out, she will plow right through each and every diva, showing that women's wrestling is more than ditsy blondes and slap fights. Hopefully she will get to feud with either Natalya or Beth Phoenix right away, they are really the only other diva's that could stand up to Kong in any way.

Draft Pick #2: Rey Mysterio moves to Raw
Determining Match: Eve vs. Layla
In typical d-bag fashion, Michael Cole, yet again, interrupts the diva's match with his ranting. This is another reason why no one has any respect for the women of the WWE. Like I have said before, they deserve just as much respect and attention as the male competitors.

I'm just thanking my lucky stars that I don't have to watch another Cody Rhodes versus Rey Mysterio match. I find them incredibly boring and Rey falling a little flat. Here's to hoping that this transition will breathe some new life into him.

Draft Pick #3: Randy Orton moves to Smackdown
Determining Match: Sheamus vs. Kofi Kingston
I was impressed that Smackdown received such a huge boost. They seem to be somewhat undervalued as a brand, playing second fiddle to Raw. It's good to see the SD roster being beefed up a little bit with some big time talent.

The match that I waited for for half of the show was Jim Ross versus Michael Cole. Seriously, I cannot stress enough how much I despise him. You could just feel the tension between Cole and the fans, especially when he stomped on Jim Ross's trademark hat. I don't understand how the creative team is letting Cole run amuck like this and for quite some time. Whe does he constantly get to cheat to win? Why are they letting him come out on top all the time? I can;t wait until Sunday and I hope that he FINALLY gets what is coming to him in the country whipping match.

Draft Picks #4 and #5: Sin Cara and Mark Henry both move to Smackdown
Determining Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Randy Orton
I'm being continually impressed by Ziggler as he continues to show that he deserves to be in the spotlight.

The stipulation was announced for the Randy Orton and CM Punk match at Extreme Rules, a last man standing match. I enjoy watching both men compete and I am hoping that they let them actually do a little bit of damage to each other and have a real last man standing match. But I guess we'll see this Sunday...


Draft Picks #6 and #7: Big Show and Alberto Del Rio move to Raw
Determining Match: Wade Barret vs. Rey Mysterio
With Del Rio being moved to Raw and The Miz staying put, this gives us even more reason to believe that Christian will be winning the title this Sunday. There is no way that they will let one show have the two biggest titles in the company. Christian has always been one of my favorite competitors and is getting the shot that he deserves, guaranteed this match will be dedicated to his best friend Edge. I am looking forward to being thoroughly entertained this Sunday, can't wait to see him compete.

Draft Pick #8: John Cena moves back to Raw
Determining Match: 6 man tag team
What the eff happened? I kind of liked the idea of Cena joining the blue team,  maybe giving the broadcast new life. This completely threw me for a loop but makes total sense. It goes back to my original thoughts of Del Rio being drafted to Raw and his match this Sunday. No way would the WWE allow one show have two major titles. It makes sense to keep John Cena on Raw, which made his draft to Smackdown and subsequent re-draft to Raw all the more surprising.


To see the full draft results, click here.

Wrestlemania XXVII - The Short Version.

I always like to take a few days to think about what I really want to say about the biggest night in sports entertainment, this year was a doozy. I thought that the event was really well put together, there were some moments that stood out a great deal and some that fell a little flat for me. Overall, the pay-per-view was fantastic. Wrestlemania is always a huge deal in my house, usually involving good friends, great food, and ice cold drinks.

The highlight of the event was the match involving Triple H and the Undertaker. I could not have been more impressed with a match if I tried. Everything about this was perfect. When HHH tombstoned the Undertaker and he kicked out, everyone went insane, probably the most shocking moment of the night. What a well put together program, with an incredible match build up, and a truly great ending. I had a feeling that McMahon would not let the Undertaker lose his streak, I guarantee that he will retire undefeated at Wrestlemania. This match truly showed the athleticism of both individuals, their dedication to the business and their fans, and their mutual respect for one another. Every match at a pay-per-view should be crafted like this. Their match will go down in wrestling history as one of the greats.

Another shocker was Snooki, it was great that she was able to do something more than just get the pin. Even though she got some boo's, she did incredibly well for being an untrained performer. I was also disappointed that the Rock didn't get more involved in the show. Being a bit skeptical of a guest host for Wrestlemania, I thought he would end up doing more than coming out twice and a few backstage skits.

The Daniel Bryan and Sheamus match being moved to a dark match was also a huge let down. Daniel Bryan is an amazing in-ring performer and would have shined in his very first Wrestlemania match. I'm not too sure why it was bumped but I'm positive that the WWE team had reason for doing so. I almost cried when Jerry Lawler lost to Michael Cole, I have been waiting for WEEKS for him to beat on Cole. I was so glad the Jerry got his moment in the sun but I felt that by not letting him win, they tarnished his moment. Perhaps they are building up the feud so that Lawler can finally do what every fan has wanted him to do for a while. Boggles the mind as to why he didn't win on Sunday but hopefully he gets his hands on him soon. Maybe a Jim Ross/Jerry Lawler vs. Cole /Swagger match?

Now onto the main event, John Cena vs. The Miz. Let me start off by saying that I found this match a little lackluster. There seemed to be something missing throughout the entire match, I thought that there would be a little more going on. In some alternate wrestling universe, John Cena would have won, the match would have been restarted for whatever reason, and then the Miz should have won. Or vice versa, Miz could have cheated, match restarts, and then Cena gets the win. It would have been a lot more entertaining than what happened on Sunday night. I did enjoy his entrance this year (I always look forward to seeing his ring entrance every year), as well as his new gear. The Miz also had a good promo video heading into the match, with a less amazing entrance. Hopefully there is some sort of rematch and they step it up a little bit. Their 'Mania bought was ok, but not the caliber of match worthy of the main event spot.

The Monday Night Raw after Wrestlemania was also a pretty solid broadcast in my opinion. It was good to see Jim Ross back out there, it was just like old times and was a little nostalgia for those longing for quality commentating. Cole of course came out, running his mouth, and bad talking two of the greatest voices in the business. I was praying that Ross would get his hands on Michael Cole but I guess good things come to those who wait. There were a few matches but it was mostly a recap of the previous night. My favorite moment was Triple H's speech regarding his match with the Undertaker. Say whatever you want about the WWE but there are no greater performers than the superstars of the WWE. Their match will go down as a classic in the history books, I can;t wait for a possible rematch but it will be hard to top their battle at WMXXVII.

The WWE Universe also saw a first last night, the main event for Wrestlemania XXVIII was already set. The Rock versus John Cena, in a match reminiscent of The Rock and Hulk Hogan. I was shocked to hear that they were planning a main event a year away but I think it could work. Someone has to turn heel, or there has to be a cool down in the fued then a build up at the perfect time. It will be interesting to see how they keep interest for an entire year until they get to Miami. In my opinion, no one does it better than the WWE creative team. I have faith that they will deliver a top notch program leading up to one of the most anticipated matches of all time.

Finishing the Journey to Wrestlemania.

This Monday was the final Raw before the biggest sports entertainment event of the year, the show of shows, the showcase of the immortals, Wrestlemania. It was some of the superstars last chances to build their matches, make their cases, and have the last word concerning their match ups. All in all, it was a pretty solid broadcast, there wasn't much in-ring time as it was all about building up the hype for the big event on Sunday.

The show opened with CM Punk sitting in the middle of the ring, in his hometown of Chicago. He basically just talked about Randy Orton and how he has taken out almost every member of the new Nexus. I really enjoy CM Punk, both in-ring and on the mic, he has a lot of talent and will go quite far in the business. The crowd totally ate him right up. Randy came out with his knee heavily taped and proceeded down to the ring, they tussled and Orton failed to deliver an RKO. The crowd was obviously behind Punk, but this was a great way to kick off Monday Night Raw. CM Punk is a great wrestler but it will be interesting to see how he fares without his minions around, just him and Randy in the ring.

The in ring competition saw Edge and Christian face Alberta Del Rio and Brodus Clay, Kane/Big Show/Santino/Kozlov face the Corre, Lawler faced Jack Swagger, and Dolph Ziggler and Sheamus go against Daniel Bryan and John Morrison. First, I always enjoy when Edge and Christian are together, they are extremely charismatic and entertaining. This is the type of tag team that the WWE needs to see more of, they are great competitors but also engage the crowd. The tag team division could be, once again, built up to its glory. Hopefully the two get paired together on a consistent basis. As for Del Rio, it is dicey to say that he will win the championship in his first ever Wrestlemania. I don't like when WWE rookies are given the push too soon, they need time to develop as personalities and performers. But who knows? He may shock us all and take the title this Sunday but I don;t think Edge will let that belt go so easy.

Yet another match was added to the Wrestlemania XXVII card, Kane/Big Show/Santino/Kozlov against the Corre. I don;t expect an epic battle from this match but it should provide some pretty good entertainment value, it is also nice to see Wade Barrett coming into his own more. I think he is a fantastic talent that should not be wasted. There was more build to the gimmick match of the event, not to downplay the talent of those involved but in a match featuring Snooki, 'gimmick' is the only word to use. Dolph Ziggler and his partner Sheamus took on Daniel Bryan and John Morrison. I am continually impressed by both Bryan and Morrison in every conceivable way. My Dad mentioned that Bryan just reeks of Stampede Wrestling, he is so old school it is ridiculous. Very technical, which you don;t really get a lot these days, probably one of the best technical wrestlers ever. I'd put him right up there with both Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko. Morrison, being a high flyer and a risk taker, is a great foil for Daniel Bryan. Perhaps future tag team champions?

Another thing that I noticed during the show was that both Jerry Lawler and Josh Matthews seemed to be ignoring Michael Cole (which I loved!). Josh Matthews shows promise as a color commentator, meshing well with the King's announcing style, then you have Michael Cole. Seriously, get this guy off TV, at least after Jerry beats the holy hell right out of him. Lawler faced Swagger, was making a comeback in the match and Cole gets in the way. I wish Lawler would have smoked him with that chair. Every dog gets his day and Michael Cole's day is Sunday. I personally can;t wait to see him get what he deserves, and I'm sure the WWE Universe can;t wait either.

The two video packages were for Sin Cara and Undertaker/HHH. Word has it that Sin Cara is making his television debut on the Monday Night Raw after Wrestlemania, many were hoping for a debut at the big show. WWE could be pulling our leg for all we know. One thing is for sure though, this talent will be impressive. The Undertaker/HHH promo was impressive, the two individuals have done a really great job of putting this program together. As the last of the real legends in the locker room, their expertise will make this match one of the best, if not the best, in 'Mania history.

When Taker and Triple H had their final confrontation on Raw, the mere presence of these two individuals garnered a HUGE reaction from the crowd. What got an even bigger reaction was the presence of HBK, I had no idea he was appearing and jumped right off the couch when his music started. Shawn basically gave a rundown of what each guy has going for them heading into their No Holds Barred match. Then he does the unexpected, calls out Hunter as to why he thinks that he can beat the Undertaker when he couldn't on two occasions. There is discussion from both Triple H and the Undertaker about respect, and how Hunter looked up to the Undertaker as a source of inspiration as to how a true wrestler works. More than likely fueling those retirement rumors we keep hearing, Triple H says that he and Shawn made a pact. I am paraphrasing here but it basically was that if either individual could not perform up to their personal standards, then it was up to the other guy to say that it was time to hang up the boots. Apparently, Hunter thinks it is the Taker's time to hang it up and go on with life.

Not likely.

You can really see the mutual respect between the three of these guys in the ring. Then it happens, Shawn goes to super kick Undertaker, Triple H steps in and says that Shawn knows why he will beat him at Wrestlemania. By this point, I'm getting ready to lose my mind, thinking that the announcement that everyone speculated will come out. Instead, Shawn quietly steps out of the ring, mouths an 'I'm sorry.', and heads up the ramp. It's tough to say whether or not the Heartbreak Kid will be involved in the match at the pay-per-view. He will be on hand for the Hall of Fame, as he is being inducted, but has he really hung up the boots for good? Only time will tell.

Now for the moment that everyone has been waiting for, the long awaited confrontation between the Rock, John Cena, and the Miz. I'm not generally impressed with the Rock but he did get a great shot in at Cena, calling him a 'homeless power ranger'. Cena was entertaining as always, and the two banter back and forth. The the Miz comes out to ruin it all. He blabbers on about how Rocky is afraid to get beat by the Miz because he's just a movie star now and so on. Then the crowd gets what they want, Riley and Miz start beating on him and then he fights back and getting probably one of the loudest pops of the night. Then, in a startling turn, Cena delivers his signature Attitude Adjustment to Rocky, laying him flat out in the ring. Many are speculation that this is the beginning of a heel turn for John Cena, I beg to differ. I think that it is simply him just proving that he is bigger, better, and badder than Dwayne Johnson. Cena is showing his dedication to his fans and the business, where as Rocky could only appear twice before his hosting gig. I don't think that Cena will turn heel but perhaps his little gesture will guarantee the Rock;s involvement in his match this Sunday.

I would also like to send out a huge congratulations to the Legion of Doom for being the final inductees into the Hall of Fame for 2011. I cannot think of a more deserving duo, it is just so sad that Hawk will not be here to enjoy the honor or see the impact that the Road Warriors left on the wrestling business. I had an inkling that they would be in this year, if not, then next year. When I heard the rumbling, raspy voices of Animal and Hawk, I lost my damn mind. I jumped up off the couch and almost threw my notebook across the room. I am so glad that they are being recognized for their contribution to the sports entertainment industry. I look forward to seeing them and Paul Ellering being inducted this year, they truly deserve this honor.

It is also worth noting that Chris Jericho is continuing to do well on 'Dancing With The Stars`. He scored a 23/30 for his quickstep last night, bringing his combined score to 42/60 for both week one and two of the competition. Keep those votes coming in to keep Jericho on the show!

Monday Night Raw & Then Some- Two Weeks Away From Wrestlemania.

It's only two weeks until Wrestlemania, and Monday Night Raw is getting better than ever.

Triple H came out to open the show, speaking briefly about his upcoming match with the Undertaker, he put it perfectly when he said it would be the defining moment in both of their distinguished careers. This match has got to be the single most exciting bout ever, the Undertaker could either lose his undefeated streak or continue with the greatest legacy in sports entertainment. During Triple H's in-ring promo, Ted DiBiase Jr. comes out and blabs about how he has become an afterthought. One, no one honestly cares what he has to say, and two, there is no real explanation as to why he is challenging him. I personally think that since Legacy broke up, DiBiase has become a sort of joke within the company. I haven't seen him really do anything of any substance for a while. He of course gets beaten to a pulp by Hunter and then that's the end of that segment.

The first match of the broadcast is Evan Bourne versus Sheamus, who I can't stand, as I have stated in numerous posts. It was a pretty quick match with a somewhat predictable outcome, seeing as Bourne beat Sheamus last time and Sheamus has just won the United States title belt. Daniel Bryan comes out and invokes his rematch clause and challenges the human block of cream cheese at Wrestlemania XXVII. Hopefully the WWE officials give these two time to shine, it will be a refreshing addition to an already amazing card. The matches were pretty solid, Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel retained their tag titles against Santino Marella and Vladamir Kozlov, Eve retained her title against Maryse, and the inter gender-handicapped-tag team match was inspired. As much as I don't like Vickie Gurerro, it is a good build for the Wrestlemania confrontation. Not much wrestling time on the broadcast but it was quality.

My big issue with this week was, once again, Michael Cole. I do realize that they want us all to not stop talking about him, generating even more buzz for the most annoying person every to be handed a microphone. He should NOT be interrupting a match to flap his lips. I'm not a huge fan of women's wrestling right now but they deserve the same adulation and respect that the men get while competing in the ring. I would also like to personally congratulate Eve Torres for slapping Cole, as so many members of the WWE universe have wanted to do for the past several weeks. Once again, he is attempting (and very poorly) to humiliate Jerry Lawler. I don't know who signed off on this monstrosity but he once again goes for Jerry's deceased parents. It might be bringing in the ratings but it crosses the boundaries of good taste, there's a fine line in building hype for a match and just taking it a step too far. It doesn't take a genius to see what side of that line this falls on. Once again, Jerry gets attacked by both Swagger and Cole. Like no one saw that coming, the fans can't wait for him to get his comeuppance in two weeks at Wrestlemania.

Can I also ask what the hell was with his portrayal of Jim Ross? Not even chuckle worthy, just plain stupid.

We once again saw another promo video for Sin Cara. He looks like a worthy adversary and I, for one, am glad that the WWE is starting to bring in some high flyer's. It will be interesting to see what brand he will be on once he makes his official debut with the company. Speaking of video promos, the one hyping the Taker/Triple H bout was extremely well done. It was very interesting to see the career highlights of both individuals and to hear what their fellow colleagues/adversaries/friends had to say about each person and how they think the match is going to go. Something tells me that everyone in the arena and at home is going to be glued to the television for this one.

Another build featured on the broadcast this week was John Cena and the Miz (with the Rock thrown into the middle of course!). John announces that next week, on the final show before the big event, that he will come face to face with Dwayne Johnson. It will be interesting to see how the two interact while in the same ring, as opposed to exchanging extremely funny barbs back and forth. He also talks about the Miz, concerning his abilities and creativity by coming out dressed as the Rock and delivering an attack. The Miz also gets to cut his own promo in the ring, debuting the 'new' championship belt. Simply the same design with the 'W' flipped upside down. This had to be the stupidest thing I have ever seen in my entire wrestling watching life. What a bozo. What I did enjoy was when John Cena revealed that he was actually in the arena and would be paying a visit to both the Miz and Alex Riley in the ring. I was fooled because I thought he was still at home with a concussion, as it was reported that he had to undergo IMPACT testing, as per the WWE Health and Wellness Policy. Cena did take a jab at Rocky by saying that he wasn't via satellite, that he was here. That has bugged me since the Rock came back, he should have been making live appearances on a consistent basis. It was worth it to see the Miz cower while letting his protege take the beating. Will this have an effect on their match at Wrestlemania XXVII?

There are a few other points that I would like to discuss as well, mostly TNA related. What the hell is up with Jeff Hardy? I don't watch TNA at all, I do not enjoy the type of product that they produce but I do try to keep tabs on it as often as I can. I heard what happened in his last match with Sting, and can honestly say that I would be disgusted as a fan. This is not the first incident of this type with Hardy at an event, as he was almost stripped of the title at a TNA pay-per-view awhile back. All they offered fans for this debacle was 6 months of free access to their on-demand service, is Dixie Carter serious? There are clearly problems within the company as no one has yet to formally address the issues that Hardy is having, all he has gotten so far was being pulled from some upcoming events. There is clearly something wrong with him, that company, and their drug testing policy. There has been nothing that I have ever read about any health or wellness policy that TNA has, while WWE's policy and practices are available online, in full detail for anyone to view. I would like to try and find a copy of TNA's and actually review it to see how it measures up. This man is becoming such a huge liability for this company that he is going to just bring them down with him. Dixie Carter needs to smarten up, if it was my wrestling promotion, Hardy would be fired immediately. I honestly don't think that his popularity and ability to draw viewers is worth having him show up clearly unable to perform (as mentioned, this has happened on more than one occasion and i not an isolated incident.). They aren't only cheating the fans, they're cheating themselves out of having any sort of chance to be a decent wrestling promotion.

And finally, Chris Jericho made his debut on ABC's 'Dancing With the Stars' last night. I thought he did a great job on his cha cha with partner Cheryl Burke and look forward to seeing him dance as long as he's on the show. So wrestling fans, call/text/vote online to keep Chris and Cheryl on the show! All information for the show, registering to vote online, and those competing on the show can be found here.

Stone Cold Does Dallas.

Before I even start to talk about the broadcast, I just want to say that the highlight of this week's Monday Night Raw was the return of Stone Cold Steve Austin. Now onto the show...

The show opened with the Undertaker coming out to Johnny Cash's 'Ain't No Grave', which couldn't be a more fitting song for him. He cut his promo for his match with Triple H at Wrestlemania XXVII. He mentions that this is more than just a match, it`s about two legends colliding in the squared circle. It is a 100% correct statement, as I have mentioned before these two are the last veterans in the locker room. The Undertaker says that many are speculating that his streak will end this year and he brings up his last two `Mania matches, which happened to be with Shawn Michaels. They then show a really well put together video package of their matches at both Wrestlemania XXV and XXVI. A stipulation is finally revealed for the clash of the titans, a NO HOLDS BARRED MATCH! I, for one, am excited about this, stoked even. I am just wondering how this stipulation will fit into the PG mind frame of the company. My best guess is that these two will be allowed to go as far as they want because they are the ones putting their program together. As Jim Ross would say, it`s going to be a slobber knocker!

The storyline between Randy Orton and Nexus continued this week, as Orton was attacked backstage by Ryan, Punk, and Otunga. He's ambushed and dragged to the ring where he is further assaulted by the Nexus, right before his match with David Otunga. The bell rings and the bout begins, Otunga thinking that he has an advantage because Orton was attacked. Orton goes for the win, David is then barred from ringside at Punk's Wrestlemania match. It ends with Randy Orton delivering a punt to Otunga. There is only one more member of the Nexus for Orton to take on, Mason Ryan. I'm hoping that he is also barred from ringside so that it is a fair fight, called right down the middle.

I didn't know that Rick the Sign Guy would be at this broadcast but his signs were hilarious as always.

It is announced that the Miz will not appear tonight and I breathed a collective sigh of relief. I know I have mentioned this many times before, I cannot stand him. I think he's terrible. Quickly after Christian comes out on Raw and is set to face Alberto Del Rio (who is accompanied by Brodus Clay). Del Rio says that Christian must face Brodus Clay before he can step in the ring with him. It was a pretty one sided match obviously, but he is a mountain of a man. With the right move set and gimmick, he will go far. He could be a possible rival for the Big Show or any other large superstar. It will be interesting to see how the WWE uses another giant.

A few smaller notes from the broadcast include the announcement of Sunny as the newest inductee into the Hall of Fame and an advertisement for Sin Cara. I wasn't really impressed with Sunny being announced as I feel there are many more females in wrestling that did a lot more and deserve it more. However, good for her for being recognized for her contribution to the wrestling world. As for Sin Cara, I cannot wait for him. I think he will be an amazing in-ring competitor and a worthy adversary for any superstar.

Eve faced a Bella twin for the Diva's championship and retained her title. The one thing that made my blood boil was Cole interrupting this match with his stupid banter. The women deserve as much respect during their matches as the men do. It was disrespectful and completely uncalled for.

Michael Cole finally gets to run his mouth about who his pick for guest referee. Turns out he picked JBL, it was refreshing to see him after being out of the ring for so long. He was playing a heel but he does it well, JBL ripped on Texas, talked about how 'awesome' Michael Cole is, and says how impartial he'll be while calling the match. Glass shatters and the man of the hour comes out, Stone Cold. The crowd goes nuts for him and Cole cowers behind Bradshaw like a little, well, you get the idea. Austin exchanges words, delivers a stunner to JBL, pours beer on Cole and JBL, and then signs the Wrestlemania contract. This will ensure that Jerry gets the fair shot that he deserves. I can't wait to see him put on the stripes, count to three and raise Jerry's hand.

Daniel Bryan faced Sheamus, who loses by a disqualification due to an ankle injury that he suffered when he was thrown out of the ring. He proposes a match for next week, if he loses against Daniel Bryan, he quits. How will this play out? Will he simply just be written off of television for a while? Will he go to Smackdown? Only time will tell, next week will be interesting. CM Punk faces R-Truth, with Mason Ryan at ringside. It doesn't take a genius to figure out how this one went.

They aired part two of an interview with HBK, regarding his thoughts on the Triple H/Undertaker match. Basically he just discusses his friendship with Hunter and his evolution as a performer. I personally think that it would have been nice if he was either commentating on it or interviewed in person. He has a unique perspective on this match, seeing as he has worked with both individuals.

Dolph Ziggler was revealed as a the newest member of the Raw roster, Vicki announcing that it was her negotiations that brought him there. I'm kind of iffy on Ziggler, I think that he could be great but he needs to drop Vicki and that stupid sleeper hold as his finisher. It just seems like he isn't even trying. He faces John Morrison and wins the match. The twist here is that the Raw General Manager says that he hired Ziggler back, but not Vicki. The stipulation for Vicki to acquire a job on Raw is for her to defeat Trish Stratus next week. I don;t really think there is any competition here but I am looking forward to seeing Trish in the ring after such a long hiatus. The last segment of the show is John Cena addressing the Rock. I really admire John Cena, the man can cut a promo and fight. He keeps the crowd entertained, whether they love him or hate him. Cena acknowledges his haters with a smile on his face, that always makes them hate him more. The Miz then appears, runs his mouth, delivers a 'People's Elbow', and the show closes. It's interesting to see how the Rock will factor into the Miz vs. Cena match at 'Mania.


It is going to be an eventful few weeks until the event, rivalries will play out, new ones will start, and it will be one hell of a ride.

Until next week...

One Step Closer to Wrestlemania.

This week's episode of Monday Night Raw is bringing us one step closer to the "showcase of the immortals", and here is how it all went down...

Triple H came out to kick the show off and discussed the accolades that he has achieved in his 16 or so year career. He also mentioned how the Undertaker and himself were really the only two greats left in the WWE locker room, he is absolutely right. They have the longest tenure of any wrestler employed today and it's quite sad to think about when it's time for them to retire. Both men have provided such a fantastic catalogue of matches and title wins, it's hard to imagine the WWE without either of them. As he was making his speech, Sheamus comes out and Triple H delivers a pedigree through the announce table. Glad to see that Hunter is back in fighting form.

Noticeably absent from the announce table is Michael Cole. I found this a bit weird but figured that he would be out later to address Jerry's Wrestlemania challenge. The Raw General Manager then chimes in saying that even though Sheamus was just attacked, he must still compete in his scheduled match. Evan Bourne is revealed to be his opponent and of course wins upon his return to the ring. It's kind of sad that the WWE has no more cruiser weight division, Evan is a fantastic wrestler who is being underutilized due to his size, it has nothing to do with his abilities as an entertainer. Happy to see him back and making such a strong impact.

Cole finally makes his appearance and says that he will face Lawler at Wrestlemania, only if Jerry abides by two conditions. Cole is allowed to have his trainer (who turns out to be Jack Swagger) ringside and he gets to pick the guest referee for the match. Of course Jerry says yes, then gets attacked by Cole and Swagger. The highlight of this entire exchange was when Lawler called him a "Cole-sore", I literally died of laughter. Probably the funniest moment of the entire broadcast.

Another Wrestlemania match was also confirmed that night, Randy Orton will face CM Punk at the pay-per-view but it is accompanied with a unique set of circumstances. Randy Orton will face each member of Nexus on Monday Night Raw leading up to Wrestlemania XXVII. If he wins, the Nexus member cannot be ringside for the match. If he loses, the Nexus member is allowed to be present. First up was Michael McGillicutty, who not only lost but suffered a punt to the skull. Word is that he is being written off of television for a bit, let's hope that he does not suffer the same fate as Husky Harris. McGillicutty shows a lot of promise as a WWE superstar.

There was also a brief video highlighting the recent signing of Mexican wrestler Mistico. His WWE name will be Sin Cara and I am excited to see exactly what he can do in the ring.

In the latter half of the show, the Miz comes out and blabs on about how he is the most must-see WWE champion and blah, blah, blah. He also mentions how he will defeat Cena at Wrestlemania and then go after the Rock. He seriously gets on my nerves. I know it's all an angle and what not but there has got to be an end to it. Of course Cena comes out, cracks a few jokes about the Miz and Alex Riley, presents a "doctor's note" and goes on about how the Miz has OCD. Cena then says how he should work without Riley helping him win, take pride in being the champ instead of just coasting by. He makes a very valid point, I know it is all pre-determined but I still can;t stand a cheater. John then proposes a match for the broadcast, Cena vs. Riley. If Riley wins, then Cena must admit that the Miz is the greatest champ ever. If Cena wins, Alex Riley is no longer the apprentice of the Miz. The Raw General Manager makes it a steel cage match, to ensure no outside interference. However, the Miz still interferes, throwing his phone into the ring, even after he gave his word he wouldn't interfere. In the final match of the broadcast, Cena won and Alex Riley is on his own, it will be interesting to see how this will play out next week.

In diva news, one of the Bella twins is the #1 contender for Eve's Diva's Championship. They pulled that twin magic business and ultimately won the battle royal.

The Rock cut a promo on Raw that really disappointed me. He appeared live via satellite from his home in Los Angeles. I personally think that he should have cut the promo in person, he would have had a greater connection with the crowd. He basically talked about how his foray into Hollywood paved the way for WWE to make movies and for wrestlers like John Cena to appear in those movies. Rocky did briefly tease a fight with Cena, even if that was not his intention. I'd like to see it because I think John would destroy him. The Rock is an excellent talker but not much of a wrestler, in my opinion and some of you may feel different about that.

HBK also appeared in a taped interview discussing his opinion on the Taker vs. Tiple H match at this year's Wrestlemania. He spoke about the possibility of the long fabled streak ending and how, when you face the Undertaker, you're in the ring with a legacy rather than a man. A very valid point, Taker is intimidating enough but adding the legend of an 18-0 winning streak at Wrestlemania adds to it even more. He is clearly rooting for Triple H in this match, as the two have been very close friends and partners for many years. Shawn also adds, at the end, that he doesn't know how he will feel if/when Hunter ends the streak this year.

Another note, Bob Armstrong was announced as the next inductee to the WWE Hall Of Fame for this year. It wasn't announced on the broadcast but was announced on the WWE website. His four sons will induct him on April 2nd in Atlanta. Congratulations to "Bullet" Bob Armstrong.

As the excitement of the biggest sports entertainment event of the year, rivalries will be heating up and the competition will be more fierce than ever. I am very much looking forward to April 3rd and how the events and grudges will be settled on that night.